Guard rail clamp



June 10, 1952 H. R. AKERS GUARD RAIL CLAMP 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 Filed April 2 0, 1950 ATTORNEY INVENTOR.

H. R. AKERS GUARD RAIL-CLAMP June 10,- 1952 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed April 20, 1950 flake/so A. 4x519:

INVENTOR.

Patented June 10, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GUARD RAIL CLAMP Harrison It. Akers, Tyler, Tex. Application April 20, 1950, Serial No. 156,961

2 Claims. (01. 2ss--21 This invention relates to railway equipment and more particularly to clamps for guard rails.

This invention is an improvement in the guard rail clamp disclosed and claimed in my Patent No. 2,385,248 issued September 18, 1945.

It is desirable that clamps for rail guards be of simple construction for ease of manufacture and installation. Moreover, the clamps must hold the guard rail at a predetermined distance from the traffic rail but must be easily adjustable to allow the guard rail to be moved closer to the traffic rail as the ball of the guard rail becomes worn with use in order to obviate the replacement of the worn guard rail.

Accordingly it is an object of my invention to provide a new and improved clamp for guard rails.

It is another object of my invention to provide a new and improved clamp for guard rails which is of simple construction.

It is still another object of my invention to provide a new and improved adjustable clamp for guard rails.

Briefly stated, my new and improved guard rail clamp comprises a pair of tapered turn out filler blocks disposed between the guard rail and the traffic rail adjacent the ends of the guard rail. The filler blocks are adjustably secured relative to one another by a rod. The space between the guard rail and the traffic rail is determined by the distance between the filler blocks. The guard rail and the traffic rail are held against outward movement by a C-shaped yoke. A wedge shaped key cooperates with one end of the yoke to limit the outward movement of the guard rail while a take up block having an arcuately recessed end cooperates with the other arcuate end of the yoke to allow a limited movement between the guard rail and the trafiic rail. In one application a pair of yokes are employed, one adjacent each end of the guard rail. The wedged shaped keys associated with yokes face in opposite directions and cooperate with the tapered turn out filler blocks which also face in opposite directions to wedge the guard rail against movement relative to the trafiic rail. In another application, only one yoke and its associated key and take up block are employed. In this case a pair of adjustable cooperating Wedge shaped spacer blocks are employed to prevent movement of the guard rail toward the traflic rail. The wedge shaped keys and the spacer I blocks are selectively adjustable to allow the distance of the guard rail from the trafiic rail to be varied as desired.

For a better understanding of my invention reference may be had to the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and its scope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawin Figure 1 is a perspective view of a section of traffic rail with the guard rail attached by means of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the device shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a transverse section taken'on line 3--3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a transverse sectiontaken on line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a turn out filler block and a portion of the connecting rod;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of a section. of tramc rail attached by means of a single yoke and the spacer block;

Figure '7 is a transverse section taken along lin 'I-'I of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a yoke, key and take up block; and,

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a pair of cooperating spacer blocks.

Referring now particularly to Figures 1 to 5 and 8 of the drawing, a guard rail I0 is shown attached to a traffic rail I I by means of the guard rail clamp of my invention. The guard rail clamp comprises a pair of C-shaped yokes I2 and I3. Each of the yokes I2 and I3 has a body I4 which lies beneath and spans the rails I0 and II and whose inwardly turned ends I5 and I6 confront the outer surfaces of the webs I?! and I8 of rails Ill and II, respectively. The ends I6 of yokes I 2 and I3 are cut obliquely and bear against correspondingly oblique surfaces I 9 of wedge keys 20 and 2|, respectively interposed between ends I6 of yokes I2 and I3, respectively, and the web I 8 of guard rail I I.

The end I5 of yokes I2 and I3 are of arcuate shape and lie in correspondingly shaped arcuate sockets or recesses 22 in take up block 23' and 24, respectively. The take up blocks 23 and 24 are interposed between the ends I5 of yokes l2 and I3 and the outer surface of web ll of the guard rail II).

The turn out filler blocks 25 and 26 each consist of a body 21 shaped to conform to the space between the webs l1 and I8 of guard rail. I 0 and traffic rail II at the turn out 29 or 30 of guard rail I0. Each of the filler blocks 25 and 2G is provided with a lower transverse flange 3I.-beneath the outer or wide end provided with an aperture to receive the rod 32. The opopsite or narrow ends of the filler blocks 25 and 2B are slotted at 33 to accommodate a bolt 34 or 35 which extend from web H to web I8 of rails I6 and. II.

Returning to the yokes I2 and I3 and their associated components, it will be observed that each of the wedge keys 20 and 2| is provided with a lower flange 36 which is disposed in the slot or channel 31 between end I6 and main body I4 of its associated yoke I2 01' I3. Flange 36 projects outwardly beyond the oblique surface I9 of the wedge key 20 or 2I and is provided With'a plurality of apertures 38 each of which isadapted to receive a cotter key 39. The cotter keys 39 prevent movement of the wedge keys HI -and 2| toward each other since theyiabut-the ends I5 of yokes I2 and I3. Movement of wedge keys 23 and 2| away from each other is prevented by-the oblique ends I6 and the correspondingly oblique surfaces I9Jof thewedge'ke'ys and 2I. -It will be noted'that theends Ifiiof-jyokes :I2 and I3iare inclined: toward the 7 turnouts '23 and 3! respectivel'y. Each of the take upblocks 23 and24 is also provided with in a slot 4| provided between the-arcuateend I5 and the body I4 oi the yokes IZand I3.

v"In-"operation, the guard rail I U is'arranged: in parallel relation with thetrafiic rail II and the l'fydkes I 2 and I 3 are passed transversely under the rails I0 and I I adjacent the turnouts 29and "-30. TheendsIfi a-nd I6 of:each;.y0ke IZWan'd I3 face the outer surface of webs I! and: I-.8, respecatively. The take upi blocks 23'and 24 are-then set in position with the arcuate ends I5royokes12 and I'3'rest'ing-in the recesses 22 of blocks '23 and 24, respectively. Ii the :guard rail It is-new, the cotter-keys' 39 are inserted in: the-apertures 38 .or flanges 36 of wedge-keys 2G and 2 I "whichare nearest the traflic rail It. Ends I5 '0f;yokesI2 an'd I3b'will then abut the cotter key It will be noted that the wedge keysid'and 2I-are each -provided'with a recess 'or slotdZ, Figure-8, which permits the keys 20 and 2I to be positionedadjac'ent theends of bolts Hand 35 .inorder to permit yokes I2 and I3 toube 'positioned as:close as' possib le' toturno'utsi 9: and 3e.

The 'turn out filler blocks "25 .an'd 26 are then placed' between traffic" rail I I i and turn :outs" 29 a'nd 30; respectively-J and' the 'connecting ro'd 32 :is; passed through: the" apertures in the flange 3 I of-the blocks'25 and 26. When fi1lerl'blocks25 and 26- are in proper position between-the rails I I3 'f-and 'I lithe nuts F43 and 44 on'the...threaded'iends o rod 32 :are tightened against the -l-ock= washers 45' abutting" flller"=blo'cks" 25 and 23, respectively. The"wedgingactionof filler blocks 25 andZE 'betwe'en trafiic rail I I-and turn ou'ts 2Q and-3Q handthdwedging action of keys 2% and 2 I .bet-ween the tiiaffic rail II andends lfi'of yokes I2 and I3 will automatically tighten all parts as "filler blo'cks 25 and 26 move toward each other. Guard rail I 0 will therefore he :held' rigidly to --tr'afilc rair I I.

I Should it'hecome necessary-to move guard rail I0 eloser to traffic rail I Ito compensate forwear on-the ball lhofflguard rail II], the nuts 43 and 44 are loosened as well as the nuts onb'oltsrM wand-=35. The icotter keys iifi' are moved into the next apertures 3821and the ends Id are'therefore moved farther away from traffic rail" I I. This ca'lusesguard II] to be moved closer-tottraffic rail I-I. Tha -nuts 43- -and 44 are then tightened eagain. ltxwillabe'noted' that fillerblocks 2 5' and V 6 (will show she tarth'er from :each 'other than a flange 40 which is disposed J tween-yokes I2 and oblique side of block- '54.

formerly. As the ball 46 of guard rail I0 continues to wear, the above operation is repeated until the wedge keys 20 and 21 are in the position illustrated in Figure 2. If the ball 46 continues to Wear, no further adjustment can be made and a new guard rail III will have to be provided.

One of the advantages of the guard rail clamp of my invention lies in the ease of installation and adjustment of guardrail I0. One man can install or "adjust the guard rail Ill. "Moreover, no permanent parts, such as the spikes I0, need be removed to effect the adjustment of the guard rail N). If desired, a third yoke 4'! and an associated wedge key 43 and take up block 49, shownin broken'lines in Figure 2, may be installed be- I3 to help hold guard rail I0 and traffic rail II in rigid relation to each other. i Figures 6, '7 and 9 illustrate a modified form of the above described apparatus in which only jyoke 50 andits associated-wedge key- 5 lfand take up block-=52 are employed 'With =tL1I'11-Out filler *l ocks25 and 2E). Yoke fidkey-BI: ,are'identical in construction :withyokes I-2:a-nd

and blocks 52 I3, keys wand-2 Landzblocks 23 anditand will therefore notbe describedindetail. Yoke 50 ':is disposedintermecliate fillerblocks-25 and 2:6. and

cooperates witha pair ofwspacer b10CkS53 and-54 to hold guard rail- III.

spacer 'block 53 has asidefifi: adaptedtmabut thewebll of .guardrail Ifl andan opposite "obliquevside provided with groove fifi. The cooperating spacer block 54 is provided switlra tongue 51 which-fitssin the-groove-5Ii,--the oblique side of block 53 contacting :a -.corresponding =The-tongue-5l isprovided with a plurality of holes 58 each of which is'adaptedtoreceivea cotterkey 59. :As issh-own in-Figure 6, the cotter-keys 59 abuts thelarge-end of blocks 53 preventing movement of-v-bl-ockshi-l relative to block '55. Blocks-=53. are also, provided with an aperture fifl which receivesithearod-32 which connects turn out filler blocks='25 and=25. The-yoke-Sil, key i'ii flild -h1ocks'52 operate in the-same manner as described-above-and enable the guard rail. I-II- tube-adjusted relative to traffic -rail- It Spacer -b10cks 53 rand 54 vareirmovable "relative to each :other and are 12,130 adjustable due to the-.provision :of apertures 53- and cotter key 59. tain rails Ill'and IIiproperlyspacedbmpreventingrail I 6 fromapproaohingtooclosely toqr-ail II.

r Spacer blocks- 53 and-554 .help tor main- L'Ihe arrangementishown irr'Figure 6.;allows:for

a.. limited range :of "movement of traflic rail I I with respect torraill It. arcuateoen'd 5520i 1 yoke 50 allows a iiimited pivotal movement-10f block 52 iabout end I5 in 'orderf tosallow traffic rail women or move as it expandsand"contracts withchangeiii-temperature.

'W'hile there has been-shownarid described -preferre'd embodimentsof my -invention it will-be -apparent' to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications can bemade without departingz from' my invention and it is the-aim in-the "appendedclaimsto cover'all -su'ch changes and modifications as fa11'-"Withi-I1 the *true spirit and scope of my invention.

What is claimed is: :1. Incombination: -a'-traffic rail; a guard rail shaving an intermediate portion extending j :parallel tov saidlftraffic rail:and turned outzendl portions extending=-awayfrom said trafiic rail'pa pair of cyokes; tone I of said'syokes belnglpositioned adj acent one. of fsaid turnedai'cuti end portions and the other of said yokes being-positioned adjacent the other of said turned out end portions, each of said yokes transversely underlying said traffic rail and said intermediate portion and having inwardly turned ends confronting the outer web surface of said rails, one of said ends being inclined with respect to the adjacent rail web and the other end arcuated; a wedge key for each of said yokes, each of said wedge keys having an inclined side abutting the inclined end of its associated yoke and having a flange provided with a plurality of spaced apertures; means disposed in one of said apertures for limiting movemerit of each of said wedge keys relative to its associated yoke, each of said Wedge keys cooperating with the inclined yoke end of its associated yoke to effect perpendicular displacement of its associated yoke with respect to said traffic rail; a take-up block for each of said yokes, each of said take-up blocks being interposed between the arcuated end of its associated yoke and the adjacent rail web; a pair of spaced turn out blocks having wedging engagement be'tween confronting sides of said end portions and said traffic rail; and a rod extending uninterruptedly through each of said turn out blocks for connecting said turn out blocks against movement relative to one another.

2. In combination; a traflic rail; a guard rail having an intermediate portion extending paralell to said traflic rail and turned-out end portions extending away from said traflic rail; a C-yoke "said apertures; a take-up transversely underlying said rails and having inwardly turned ends confronting the outer Web surfaces of said rails, one of said ends being me clined with respect to the adjacent rail web and the other end arcuated; a wedge key having an inclined side abutting said inclined end; a flange extending from said key adjacent said side and provided with a plurality of vertical apertures; means for limiting movement of said key with respect to said inclined end disposed in one of block interposed be tween the arcuated end and the adjacent rail web; a pair of spaced turn-out blocks having wedging engagement between confronting sides of said end portions and said traific rail; a rod extending from one to the other oi. said turn out blocks and through openings in the outer ends of the latter, and means threaded on each end of said rod for preventing movement of said blocks relative to one another.

HARRISON R. AKERS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,111,007 Crawford Sept. 22, 1914 1,220,392 Bodkin Mar. 27, 1917 2,385,248 Akers Sept. 18, 1945 

